Six of the Avon Schools cross country teams secured top three team finishes at the South West Schools Championships.

The Avon Schools cross country squad had a successful day at the South West Schools Championships with six of the eight teams securing top three team finishes.

Sam Gentry and Keira Devereux once again ran superbly in the inter boy’s and minor girls’ race for silver and bronze respectively. Sam raised the bar in tough conditions underfoot for a tremendous second place finish, while Keira maintained her incredibly consistent run of results throughout the season for a fine third place.

Running for Somerset Schools, Matt Howard finished 18 seconds behind Sam for a fine fifth place in only his third XC race his season.

Callum Smith was another club athlete to excel with a brilliant seventh place as a bottom age athlete in the senior boy’s race. It was also great to see Harrison Garland making a rare cross-country appearance. Twenty-fifth place at such a high level was an excellent result for somebody who doesn’t do cross-country.

Blythe Jones continues to impress in her first cross country season and 34th in the minor girl’s race was evidence of the progress she has made. Meg McCrum finished well in the inter girls’ race for 47th with teammate Ellie Maule finishing 59th.

Bottom age Ollie Lock was not was not at his best in the heavy conditions and did well to finish 50th in the inter boy’s race.

Other local athletes competing were Imogen Maroney (sixth) and Lizzie Plews (26th) in the senior girls’ race, with Alice Bridger-Morales (11th) and Josephine Hallet (62nd) in the junior girls’ race and Harvey White (62nd) in the minor boy’s event.